Hand-operated vacuum massage device



19294 A. P. uDoLPH 1,730,535

HAND OPERATED VACUUM MASSAGE DEVICE Filed July 25, 1927 amnion (lemm Patented Oct. 8, 1929 UNITED STATES PTENT OFFICE ALFRED IE. RUDOLPH, OF DENVER, COLORADO HAND-OPERATED VACUUM MASSAGE DEVICE Application filed July 25, 1927. Serial No. 208,162.

It has been amply demonstrated that the signs of age can be retarded for years by proper treatment of the muscles and tissues of the face. Among the most effective means for this purpose is the properly performed massage. I have found that in order to obtain the most satisfactory results it is necessary to combine suction with the massage so asto stimulate the flow of blood and thereby to invigorate the tissues so as to prevent them from becoming flabby and wrinkled. It is the object of this invention to produce a simple devicethat can be operated by means of the hand of-the user for the purpose of subjecting different parts of the face to the action of the suction produced by the instru ment, which suction can also be supplemented 5 by the massaging action performed simultaneously therewith.

It is the further object of this invention to produce a device that shall be so constructed that it can be easily maintained in a sanitary condition and which, when'employed, in a barber shop or in a beauty parlor can have the massaging tips interchanged so that it will be unnecessary to wait for a sterilization betweeneach time that the instrument is used. The above and other objects which may appear as the description proceeds are obtained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will be described in,

detail, and for this purpose reference will now be had to the accompanying drawing, in

which the preferred embodiment of my invention has been illustrated and in which:

' Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved device with parts thereof broken away so as to better disclose the construction;

Fig. 2 is a section taken on line 22, Fig. 1, and shows the position of the parts when the device is in inoperative position;

Fig. 3- is a section similar to the section shown in Fig. 2 and shows the parts in the position they occupy when the device is exert- 7 ing a suction during the operation;

Fig. 4. is a longitudinal section showing one form of applicator; and

Fig. 5 is a section showing the form of another type of applicator.

In the drawing numeral 1 designates atubular cylindrical member which may be formed of brass or any other suitable material. One end of this member is provided with an internal thread 2 which is adapted to receive a plug 3 that is provided with a central opening 4. This plug has a transverse slot 5 that can be engaged by a screwdriver for putting the plug in place and for removing the same. 7 The tubular member 1 is provided with a longitudinal slot 6 so as to permit the plug 7 to extend outwardly. Plug 7 projects througha tubular piston rod8, which is provided at one end with a flange 9 that is located within a leather cup 10 (Fig. 2). A washer 11 is held against'the other side of the leather cup by means of a screw 12. A spring 13 surrounds the piston rod-8 and has one end abuttingthe inner surface of the plug 3 andthe other end abutting the washer 14. This spring is under compression and tends to move the piston rod towards the left until the pin 7 abuts the end of the slot 6 in the manner shown in Fig. 1'. For the purpose of reciprocating the piston rod andits piston I have provided the following mechanism. A strap 15 encircles the endof, the member 1 adjacent which the piston is located. This strap has ears 16 extending radially in the manner indicated in Fig.1. A bolt 17 extends through openings in the ears and serves as a pivot for the front end of the link 18. This link is formed of two straight portions forming an obtuse angle whose vertex is located at 19. The front end of this link is curved upwardly and encircles the bolt 17, while the rear end is curved downwardly in the manner indicated at 20. An other link 21 has its forward end hingedly connected with the rear end of link 18 and has. its rear end provided with spaced ears 22 that are connected to the upper end of pin 7 vby'means of a pivot pin 23. Links 18 and 21 2 01111 a toggle that can be moved fromthe full line to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. It is apparent that if a force is applied to straighten this toggle, that the pin 7 will be moved rearwardly during the time that the toggle moves from full line to dotted line position. As the piston rod is moved towards the rear the piston moves from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 3. It will be observed that the cup 10 is so located that when the piston moves rearwardly, air will not be able to pass and there fore the increased volume in the left hand end of the cylindrical member 1 will be filled with air. In order to convert this movement of the piston into'a suction, I have provided a plug 24 which may be made of a rubber composition and which is of such size that it will fit the end of the member 1 with an airtight fit. This plug has a cylindrical portion 25 that forms an abutment to limit the inward movement of the plug. The cylindrical part that extends into the tubular member, has an annular groove 26 which is adapted to receive the bead on the end of a rubber bag 28 (Fig.-

Plug 24 is also provided with a central longitudinal opening 27 that is adapted to receive one end of one of the applicators which has been designated by reference numeral 28. The plug 24:, with its attached rubber bag 28 is inserted in the end of tube 1 and when the parts are in normal position, the bag will be collapsed by striking the end of the piston in the manner shown in Fig- 2. WVhen the piston moves towards the right during the straightening operation of the toggle, air will rush inwardly through the applicator and fill the interior of the bag 28 until the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3. c

It is intention to provide this device with different forms of applicators, one of which has been illustrated in Fig. 4. This applicator which has been designated by reference numeral 29 has a bell shaped opening 30 that is adapted to be put into contact with the skin of the face during the operation. After the applicator has been put in place, the toggle 21 may be straightened, thereby producing a vacuum due to the movement of the piston. While the vacuum is still in existence, the applicator may be forcibly removed from the face, thereby producing a massaging action which is very beneficial.

In Fig. 5 I have shown an applicator of a specifically different construction. This applicator consists of a glass tube 31 that is slightly curved and has one end secured in the annular groove 32 in the end of the plug 24 (Fig. 5).

In Fig. 1 I have shown a modified form of an applicator which consists of a glass tube- Secured to the outside of the glass applicator S3 is a rubber portion 35 that is somewhat semispherical in shape and has a small opening in the end 36 through which the applicator is inserted. When this applicator is used, the suction will be limited for the reason that if it exceeds a certain value, the Walls of the rubber portion 35 will collapse, or move inwardly, and thereby act as a limiting means for the vacuum. It will be observed from F 1 that the rubber portion of this appllcator can be turned rearwardly into the dot and dash line position, and when it is in this position, the end 34: of the applicator will be accessible for use. The applicator shown in Fig. 1, therefore, is in effect a duplex applicator that can be readily converted from the one type to the other.

By employing a rubber bag 28 there is no danger of anything that might be sucked into the applicator coming into contact with the pump, and therefore the inside of the pump cylinder and the piston will always be in a sanitary condition. The rubber bag 28 can easily be sterilized or it may be replaced by new ones as they can be very cheaply manufactured.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced a massage device of a very simple construction that will produce a vacuum which can be utilized in connection with the ordinary massage operations to improve the results.

Having described my invention what I claim as new is:

1. A massage device comprising, in combination, a tubular member, a piston slidable therein, means comprising a spring for normally holding the piston in. a predetermined position, means comprising two toggle levers for moving the piston against the force of the spring, a plug for closing one end of said tubular member, said plug having a central opening, an imperforate bag enclosing the inner end of said plug and a tubular applicator secured in the opening in said plug.

2. A hand operated vacuum massage device comprising means for producing a partial vacuum, said means comprising a tubular member and a close fitting piston slidable therein, a perforated plug in the open end of said tubular member adjacent the piston and an imperforated diaphragm secured to the inner end of the plug for separating the piston from the inner end of, said plug.

3. A hand operated vacuum massage device comprising, in combination, a tubular member, means for closing both ends of said tubular member, a piston slidable in said tubular member, a piston rod secured to said piston and projecting through an opening in one of said end closures, said tubular member having a'longitudinal slot, a pin extending inwardly through said slot and through an opening in the piston rod, a spring surrounding said piston rod between the pin and the adjacent end closures, said spring being under compression, means for moving said piston and piston rod against the force of the spring, said last named means comprising two link members hingedly connected so as to form a toggle and means for limitingthe movement of said toggle in one direction.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature.

ALFRED P. RUDOLPH. 

